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Warming up for the next stop in Wales

Date: 12/09/13

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A longer warm-up than normal was necessary for the first session of 'all-weather' training in Wales on Thursday.

The divers stepped on to platform protruding from the cliff face of the Blue Lagoon, with the overcast and inclement conditions (that some say are typical of this part of the world) ensuring the prospect of diving 27 metres was an even more daunting one than usual.

For the UK's Mat Cowen, though, who is acclimatised, it's a return to a venue he knows well, having made his debut as a wildcard in 2012.

"It's great to be back in Wales which is where this all started for me," said the 25-year-old from the English county of Yorkshire. "Last year I arrived with friends not knowing that I was going to compete and this year I'm back as an established World Series diver. It's been an unbelievable 12 months."

Reigning World Series champion Gary Hunt was disappointed to come third in Wales a year ago and is looking forward to his home event as he bids to extend his leadership of the 2013 rankings.

"Last year this was one of my favourite events and I didn't do as well as I would have liked," said Hunt. "I'm looking forward to diving in front of a home crowd again and showing them what I've got."

The murky conditions are expected to subside later in the week with clear weather forecast for the competition day on Saturday. Friday will see the divers perform their first-round dives, with the subsequent ranking determining the head-to-head for Saturday, with the athletes advancing to the eight-man final.

The stop in Wales is the sixth of eight stops in the 2013 World Series as the sport's most talented athletes compete across three different continents, Europe, Asia and South America, to see who will be crowned this year's cliff diving king.

This weekend's event is all sold out. Spectators lucky enough to have got their hands on one of the limited number of tickets available will watch the high-flying action across two days, on September 13-14. For more information please read our FAQs.

He became one of the youngest Olympic competitors ever when he made his debut in 1972 at age of 13! Since 2009, his favorite place as sports director of the #redbullcliffdiving World Series is the platform and today is his birthday! HAVE A BLAST, Niki Stajkovic :)